“All air traffic controllers must return to work immediately. Anyone who doesn’t show up will face severe pay cuts,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on November 10.
He expressed frustration toward those choosing not to work despite knowing they would eventually receive back pay once the government reopens. “If you plan to leave this job in the near future, don’t hesitate to do so now. There will be no severance or compensation. You will be quickly replaced by true patriots,” he warned.
Trump also praised the controllers who continue working through the shutdown as “great patriots,” proposing a $10,000 bonus for each as recognition for their dedication. Since October 1, U.S. air traffic controllers have been required to work without pay until the government resumes operations, prompting many to take leave. Last week, the Trump administration ordered a 10% reduction in flights at dozens of airports amid concerns that staffing shortages could jeopardize aviation safety.
Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen criticized Trump’s remarks. “These employees, who work long hours in control towers, deserve appreciation and respect — not baseless attacks on their patriotism,” Larsen said.
Prospects for resolving the longest government shutdown in U.S. history brightened on November 10, after the Republican-controlled Senate secured enough Democratic votes to pass a funding bill extending government operations through January 2026.
However, Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), noted that following the 2019 shutdown, it took two and a half months for all controllers to receive their back pay.